“Bugg is brave, and curious, and kind
And usually has many questions in mind,
Today she can’t stop thinking of —
What is the true and real meaning of love?”
The story behind the story:
How Bugg The Pug came to life
On New Year’s Eve 2019, my oldest sister Magali shared some amazing news. She let us know that she was pregnant and that we would be expecting her baby in August 2020. We were ecstatic! Our eyes were filled with tears of joy and our hearts were full of so much love for the arrival of the newest member of our family.
Fast-forward a month to Valentine’s Day, it was late and my sister and I had spent our time on the phone going off on our deep three-hour tangents (per usual). This time we found ourselves discussing a very relatable topic for the night. We talked about the way we personally show and perceive love- and playfully bantered as we thought of which way her child would express love as they grew up. As soon as we hung up, I was sitting at my computer thinking of a gift I could give my sister per the baby’s arrival. While thinking of cribs, diaper bags, and a lot of fun toys, it came to me almost as an epiphany: “What if I write him/her their own story?”
I instantly opened a Google Doc and started typing out ideas. Random words, phrases, concepts; I wanted to take advantage of this fueled creative outburst I was experiencing and just jotted it all down. After many ideas, that same night I came up with the title of the story: Bugg the Pug Finds the Meaning of Love. I knew I wanted it to be more than a story. I wanted it to serve as a bridge between my sister, her husband Rolando, and their baby, and have it touch on the very subject my sister and I had just finished discussing- the various ways we can show and perceive love. It’s a theme we discussed frequently because we frequently discuss about what type of mothers we strive to be for our future children; communicative, empathetic, and understanding.
After six months of writing and editing, I completed the story the night before Lucas was born. When I saw my sister and brother-in-law’s reaction, I knew I wanted to share with the rest of my family and friends. And, after seeing their reaction, it gave me the crazy idea of wanting to share it with everyone, even people around the world. My hope is that this story will become a precious tool for parents and children to strengthen their bond. It's not just a book; it's an invitation to open a dialogue, to share moments, and to create memories together.
I am infinitely grateful for every single person that has supported me throughout the way. Your kind and motivating words have inspired me to share this story so that we can all be a small step closer to understanding others' (and our own) true meaning of love.
Sincerely,
Ana Lorena Lopez
1/2/21
Did you know…
Bugg the Pug takes place in Glady’s Porter Zoo. All the animals mentioned in the story can be found at the Zoo. Another fun fact- I unknowingly set them in the same order that they are in real life! You can check out the map here, or visit their website to learn more about their education and conservation efforts.
Bugg’s best friend is Bruno; the first baby gorilla to be born at the Glady’s Porter Zoo. Glady’s Porter Zoo rescued Katanga (Mother) and Lamydoc (Father) in 1970. They had baby Bruno on September 1st, 1972, where they loved and care for him every day until his passing on April 28th, 1973. ♥
Bugg’s bow is purple to represent her support for Equality in Love. Many people kept asking me if Bugg was male or female, given that her name sounds gender neutral. Bugg is whoever you, your child or loved ones would like to portray her to be. Bugg is Love!
First sketch of Bugg